Theresa Morigeau
courtesy photo
Theresa Morigeau
Theresa Morigeau
RONAN — On Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, Theresa Morigeau quietly passed on from this earth to join her loved ones that preceded her. Now, we will attempt to summarize the 33,582 days she lived.
Theresa Louise Trahan Morigeau was born on Dec. 21, 1931, in St. Ignatius to Rose Ducharme Shourds. As a young child, Theresa attended the Ursuline’s School in St. Ignatius. Of her time there, she always proudly said, “They could never make me cry.”
Theresa moved to Seattle with her mother and stepfather, Sidney Shourds, during World War II. They moved back to Montana and settled in Dixon where Theresa would go on to graduate from Dixon High School. In 2019, she would be the Grand Marshall for the Dixon School’s Centennial.
At Dixon, Theresa met her best friend, Rita Spang Schurman. Their friendship spanned many decades, and they supported each other through all the highs and lows. Through it all, they were best friends.
Fortunately for us (her descendants), she met a handsome young man named Gene Morigeau and they married on Aug. 28, 1950, at the Missoula Courthouse. For their “reception” Gene and Theresa had dinner at the Double Front Cafe and enjoyed celebrating their anniversary (and any other special or not-so-special occasion) there every year for 55 years. Just a few weeks ago, her granddaughters brought Double Front food home from Missoula for her to enjoy.
During their marriage Gene and Theresa had two sons, Ron and David. Eventually, Gene and Theresa were adopted by many of their nieces, nephews, and friends. Although not related by birth, their family grew — and continues to grow.
Theresa worked at many places, cooking and cleaning. She owned the Dairy Queen for four years and gave all of her employees an education not taught in school. Theresa was probably best known for her cinnamon rolls. When she was the cook at Two Eagle River School, she would make her cinnamon rolls and the students would sell them for fundraisers. Young people often went up to her through the years and remarked that she made the best cinnamon rolls.
Gene and Theresa built a cabin up in the Jocko in the 70s. While building the cabin, Theresa was known for carrying a hammer in her purse because inevitably, someone would forget to bring one. Theresa lived at the cabin during the summers, having family and friends stay, but was often alone. If you ever encountered her picking huckleberries, you remembered it. Grandma would tie a box to her head to shield her from the sun, carry a .357 on her hip, and have her German Shepard Kelly on his leash as she trekked the hills to pick gallons of berries. Needless to say, no human or animal ever bothered her.
Gene and Theresa sold the cabin and once Gene retired, they were able to enjoy trips together with the Dixon Senior Citizens, family or friends. They spent 55 years together, raising their family and building a life that stands as an example to all of us of a life well lived.
Once her sweetheart passed away, Theresa continued to live her life, surrounded by family and friends. Her niece Bobbie and sister Cheryl took her to her first concert, Keith Urban, in Canada in 2015 and she was hooked. Theresa attended many concerts, but the highlight was in 2017 when a group of her granddaughters, sisters, and nieces went to Las Vegas to see George Strait. It was a trip to remember as Theresa crossed off another item on her bucket list.
If you ever said the word “go” in Grandma’s presence, she was putting on her shoes and grabbing her purse, ready to go wherever the driver was going. Theresa and her granddaughter, Tracy, went on many adventures together and enjoyed each other’s company. Most recently, they were able to spend a week in Seattle visiting family.
Theresa will be missed by all of us that she’s left behind: her sons and their wives, Ron and Mindy and David and Jeanette; her adopted daughters, Cheri Lynn and Cyndi; grandchildren, Tracy, Jennifer, Rebecca and Brett, Eugene and Ashley, and Leslie; great-grandchildren, Brianna, Claire, Alex, Payton, and Colin; and great-great-grandchildren, Aiden, Olivia, Penelope, and Riot. She is also survived by her siblings: Nathan, Karen, Rhonda, Lori, and Phillip; as well as more nieces and nephews than she could ever keep track of.
We take comfort that she is now with the love of her life, Gene. Per Theresa’s wishes/orders, there will be no services. The family will spread Gene and Theresa’s ashes, per their request. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at: www.shriderthompson.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Shrider-Thompson Funeral Home.
